The HKDL Source

Update for October 1  to October 7 - News and Commentary

 

Skip To: Current Closures, Refurbishment and Construction |  Events & Important Dates | Current Discounts/Promotions | Park Hours/Schedule/Annual Pass Blockout Days | Comments

 

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News This Week: Halloween Haze | "Daddy, I want to see the Protest!" | Hong Kong School Musical | Christmas Creeping Up | Bon Voyage, Alex

 

We've been rocking the Halloween reports for over a week now, and October has only just started! It's a bit like putting up the Christmas decorations two days after Easter - it seems to get earlier each year, and small elves urge you to burn and burn again. Everybody else sees the elves, right? Right?

 

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Halloween Haze

 

Well, it's kind of hard to ignore - especially if you came to this link via our colourful front page - but our Halloween Coverage has been kind of a big deal this year. We don't know what kind of numbers Hong Kong Disneyland is getting, and Disney are traditionally quite tight-lipped about their attendance figures, but we do know that HKDL Source has managed to garner an influx of traffic over the last week. Indeed, we had almost as many people visit in the last few days as we've had in the week or two preceding them. So we'd like to thank Disney for launching this campaign to increase the number of people to our fan site. In fact, we suspect every seasonal event is designed to benefit the HKDL Source, because the same thing happened with Mickey's Summer Blast. Some people may say we are being vain, but they would say that, wouldn't they?

 

However, we really have been impressed with the amount of attention that this year's Halloween events - and more specifically, our coverage of them - has been receiving. MouseInfo, for example, has chosen to highlight our Halloween coverage in their News section. We'd also like to thank Mousevine and MiceChat in a big way, for always being willing to give our favourite little park a little more attention than it would normally get. With a month left of Halloween celebrations, we know that our coverage won't stop here. We love getting photos, trip reports and other news. If you have any to share, please feel free to Contact Us.

 

So what are the odds of this continuing in years to come? Well, as my learned colleague here at HKDL Source, Tom Pacy, commented earlier in the week: "HKDL tried an event in the spirit of Disneyland's Halloweentime last year without much success. Yes, it was much less substantial but it had some of the same decoration and similar concepts. [Rival] Ocean Park's darker and scarier event, featuring a walk-through haunted house, proved more popular and it seems as though HKDL is experimenting with this concept as a way of catering for the local tastes. How drastically different next year's Halloween event is will probably be an indication of the success or failure of year's experiment is." This comment also came in light of allegations that HKDL's "Dark World" was too dark, especially with bodies in the bathtubs at the Haunted Hotel. The focus this year is undoubtedly a darker one, although it does still firmly stay on the Disney side of 'scary'. We think that adequate explanations from parents to their kids about the nature of the attractions may be all that is needed

 

Oh, and speaking of Tom - if you really want to make his day, take a trip on Space Mountain - Ghost Galaxy, and send us a detailed trip report or better yet, some kind of recording of the altered audio track of the ride. While we don't officially endorse the recording of audio on Disney attractions, and as a former lawyer-to-be I have the utmost respect for intellectual property, we would object to hearing the soundtrack at some stage either...If you want to make my day, a redhead and a bottle of gin will do nicely, thank-you-very-much. (Don't tell my girlfriend!)

 

As we are a loving and caring bunch here at the HKDL Source, we've made planning your visit to HKDL a bit easier by replicating the information from the Official Site:

 

Day	Main Street Haunted Hotel	Glow-in-the-Dark Parade
Monday 1 October to Thursday 4 & Sunday 7	1:00 PM - 8:00PM	7:00 PM
Friday 5 to Saturday 6	2:00 PM - 11:00 PM	7:30 PM

 

Note that these don't in any way replace the existing parades and fireworks. Our beloved Disney on Parade returns to the park daily from 3:30 PM. The Fireworks will be on at 8:00 PM most nights, except the Friday and Saturday which will see them launch off at 9:00 PM.

 

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"Daddy, I want to see the Protest!"

 

Another week, another protest. We've seen our share of them in the last few months - on lightbulbs; labour rights and working conditions. This time, a couple of students were on the pointy end of a security smack-down. Two men interrupted the parade on Wednesday with banners, and had a bit of a scuffle with the park workers before being arrested. ("Police Arrest Two at Hong Kong Disneyland", CNN Money, 27 September 2007). The pair were allegedly part of the Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior group (SACOM), and were protesting the working conditions of Disney suppliers in China.

 

Without getting into the whole politics of the situation, I'm all for the protests. In fact, I encourage them. My inner anarchist, who was cultivated long before my inner corporate-monkey, gets up on his soapbox on a daily basis - and yes, an internal soapbox is painful - and the right to speak your mind in public should only be prohibited to conservative politicians and small woodland creatures (it's all natter anyway). However, rather than coming down hard on the protesters, Disney are missing a valuable opportunity here. By simply throwing potato sacks over their heads, spinning them around, re-tooling their banners and dressing them in Disney costume, they could merely point them in the right direction and make them part of the daily parade. Slip it in between Disney on Parade and the Glow-in-the-Dark Parade, and you give the kids some entertainment in that painful stretch between afternoon parade and evening festivities, when you are aimlessly riding the Teacups for the fourteenth time. Plus, because they are trespassing, you get the labour for virtually nothing!

 

 

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 Hong Kong School Musical

 

According to the OC Register, a hybrid version of High School Musical will open in Hong Kong Disneyland in January 2008. "In January, a hybrid version of "High School Musical" show will open at Hong Kong Disneyland with dialogue in conversational Mandarin, Cantonese and English – and with all songs sung in English. "The production team in Hong Kong chose the best of our acts, so we had to do some adapting...".

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and declare I have no idea what the fuss about High School Musical is. Really, I've seen the key bits (a whole film would probably send me into a diabetic coma), and I just don't get it. Is it simply watching hot young teenage bodies flounce about in skimpy (yet family friendly) costumes? Sure, since Vanessa Hudgens started appearing nude online - and in severe need of some waxing I might add - my interest in the franchise has been raised, but only slightly. Don't get me wrong, musicals can be good - when the music is good. Just from what I've heard, it's every bland musical genre of the last thirty years melted down into distilled and fermented soda pop, the kind that rots your teeth but you keep drinking it despite the damage you know that it is doing to you. When did "family friendly" and "completely bland" become synonymous? I must have missed that meeting. OK, don't get me started because I could be here all day.

 

Fans of the franchise will no doubt be star-jumping for joy over the news, and despite the claims that the story crosses boundaries, the American high-school film has always been very unique to America. The conventions are all there, and I wonder if years of indoctrination via US television has just numbed us all to the potential for decent musical filmmaking. After all, it's a small world after all, but brand new dark rides seem far more universally appealing than a franchise who's chief claim to fame is that it has managed to repackage schmaltz and sell it back to the masses at an inflated price. I find the current pirate invasion of the parks far less disturbing than this. Then again, I was young once. Maybe I'd get it if I had the musical taste of a prepubescent sugar junkie, I'd enjoy it too.

 

 

 

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Christmas Creeping Up

 

While we have been sworn to secrecy regarding our source on this story, what we can reveal is that Disney already has plans for this Christmas in the park. While the budget probably won't be as large as it has been for this Halloween - and I think we can all agree that they haven't tightened the purse strings too much on this one -  Disney management are reportedly looking at launching a dedicated Christmas parade throughout November and December. We'll bring you more details as they come to hand.

 

The one bit of confirmed news that we do have comes from the Hong Kong Tourism Board E-Zine for October 2007. They list Hong Kong Disneyland – A Magical Christmas for 23 November 2007 through 1 January 2008. While details are to be announced, it means that we should start hearing about the Christmas festivities in the next few weeks.

 

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Bon Voyage, Alex

 

Although Tom Pacy and I are effectively the "faces" of HKDL Source, in that we do much of the front page news stuff, there is another unsung member of the HKDL Source who does far more than either of us. Our "tech guy", Alex Sakker, made this magnificent website possible with his time and skills, and continues to respond to (almost) all of my complaints and requests. He is taking a much-deserved holiday to California, and of course, the original Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.

 

We wish him all the best for his trip. At least in public. Behind closed doors, we secretly wish we were going instead of him and plot to one day bring the Disney park to Sydney, Australia. At any rate, if the site implodes in the next couple of weeks, we are on our own. So fingers crossed that all goes well for him, and that we are collectively able to keep the site up and running in his absence. Bon voyage, Alex - and remember to bring us back something nice!

  

 

 

 

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Remember, as always, if you have any news, photos, trip reports or just a question, feel free to contact us.  We like to think of ourselves as the people's site.

 

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Current and Forthcoming Closures, Refurbishments and Construction

 

• Space Mountain  - Ghost Galaxy (NOW) and its Halloween features replaces the regular Space Mountain until October 31.
• Taihitian Terrace (Adventureland) restaurant CLOSED September 25 to 27 (THIS WEEK). Resumes business on Friday September 28
• Fantasyland: No closures in Fantasyland, but there is constant construction going on ‘beyond the berm’ for the forthcoming it’s a small world attraction (Coming April 2008).
• Land appears to be cleared and built upon behind Adventureland and the Promenade for as-yet-undisclosed project. While some contend that this land has always been in this state, we have reports that some construction was seen to be going on in this area. Others still say that this is prep-work for a Downtown Disney style area and the Pirates extension to Adventureland. The HK Building Department reports this as a 'Dangerous Goods Storage Area'. We now have an indication that a hotel will be going up in the area. Time will tell.
• Construction work is being carried out near the main gates, allegedly for some new toilets and Cast Member break room.

 

Events & Important Dates

 

If you know of any events that should be listed here, please let us know. 

September

• Halloween: (September 25 to October 31) Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialise all through September and October, as Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates its second official Halloween. Look for the decorations to go up late September, and then segue into the Christmas/New Year celebrations in November. This year will see the debut of a Haunted Hotel on Main Street; Space Mountain - Ghost Galaxy; a glow-in-the-dark parade and a host of other spooky surprises. You can read about the full line-up here. Annual Passholders get to experience the joy a day earlier as part of a 24 September preview!

 

October

• Halloween: (September 25 to October 31) Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialise all through September and October, as Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates its second official Halloween. Look for the decorations to go up late September, and then segue into the Christmas/New Year celebrations in November. This year will see the debut of a Haunted Hotel on Main Street; Space Mountain - Ghost Galaxy; a glow-in-the-dark parade and a host of other spooky surprises. You can read about the full line-up here.

 

November/December

• Christmas: From mid-November until New Year's Eve (December 31), Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street will become a Winter Wonderland, with a tree lighting ceremony; musical events; special meals and the big man himself, Santa.
• Magical New Year and Countdown: Concluding the Christmas festivities, this big event will be a dance party for some; some old-school shindigging for others and an excuse to have fun for all. Count down to midnight in the park, and then go back and drain the hotels of all alcohol.

 

January 2008

• High School Musical: A hybrid version of the bafflingly popular US TV hit will come to HKDL in January 2008.

 

April 2008

• it’s a small world (April 2008): RTHK News reports that the attraction is set to open in April 2008, which is consistent with Disney’s official line of ‘early 2008’. You can follow the progress in our Construction Photo Gallery .

 

May 2008

• Richard visits Hong Kong Disneyland late in the month. Prepare the fortifications!

 

Current Discounts/Promotions

• Annual Passholders: From July 1 to August 31, Passholders will receive an exclusive deals. Full details can be found here. September to December Passholder deals can be found here. Discounts for early renewals are also available.
• Bring a Friend Free: Annual Passholders can bring a friend to the park for free between September 1 and September 23! Details can be found here.
• Interest Free Installment when Purchasing Annual Passes: Purchase Annual Pass now with a Standard Chartered VISA Card or MANHATTAN VISA Card to enjoy a 12-month interest free installment. Offer Period: 1 December, 2006 – 31 December, 2007. See here for details. 
• Stay and Play for 2 Days: Book a hotel stay and enjoy an extra day at Hong Kong Disneyland when you purchase a one-day ticket! The offer has been extended until September 2008!
• Dining Deal: Book breakfast in advance and receive 30% off. Conditions apply.

 

Park Hours/Schedule/Annual Pass Block-out Days

 

Park hours will remain ar 10:00 to 8:00pm all throughout October, except on weekends when park hours will extend to 11:00 PM. October 31 will also extend to the later time, as it is Halloween Night (and the conclusion of the Halloween festivities). All weekends will be Peak Ticket days, as well as Friday October 5 and Friday October 19, and the ticket prices will be reflected accordingly.

 

Value Annual Passholders will have all weekends blocked to them during October, as well as October 19. Deluxe and Premium Annual Passholders get to go crazy, as no dates are blocked to them.

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